Silverwood Gallery will open an exhibit of Ivonne Escobar de Kommer’s new copper repousse sculptures from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, June 6.

Escobar de Kommer spoke with passion about the motivation for her work. “Somehow we have this radar of where things are. If we have a huge bookshelf, we know where one certain book is.”

This explains why the artist has titled several of her new copper sculptures “Keepers.” She believes women have an innate ability to keep track of things.

“We are the vessels of knowledge that is not crucial, but essential. I mean, we do have a way of organizing that comes naturally and that makes life more comfortable for everyone.”

Growing up in Chile gave her a perspective that embraces the role of the woman in the home and in the life of her family and friends.

And it’s often represented in her work, an ancient art form of working metal by pounding it with various mandibles to coax it into shapes.

She has been a guest artist in fifth grade art classes at Chautauqua for several years, teaching students to create a copper repousse bowl of their own design. A DVD of her working is in the collection of the Smithsonian.

One of Escobar de Kommer’s pieces at her Silverwood Gallery exhibit shows a woman’s skirt covered with little pots and pails. Another is essentially a cupboard. “This pantry lady has all the important things, like chocolate, coffee and honey. The good things. She knows just where they are all the time.” She smiles. “Because woman are keepers, and that is our role — being the keepers of all these things that make up life.”

The exhibit, which will run through June, also includes the work of Donna Romero and Joy Mann.

For more information, call Silverwood at 463-1722.

— Margaret Heffelfinger